April 26, 2015 - Lake Harriet Migrants

About two weeks ago, I was at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It serves as a stopover location for migrating waterfowl. This male Red-breasted Merganser was there in his brilliant breeding plumage.

MerganserRedbreastedmaleLakeHarrietMinneapolis20140414

There were, of course, female Red-breasted Mergansers in the same area. Like many birds species, the plumage of the female is less gaudy than that of the male. These are diving ducks and their main food source is small fish. The long thin bill has serrated edges to help hold onto the captured fish.

MerganserRedbreastedfemaleLakeHarrietMinneapolis20140414

Red-breasted Mergansers move to our coastal waters in winter. Most of them nest in Canada and Alaska so we only see them when they are passing through on the way to their nesting grounds.

MerganserRedbreastedmaleandfemaleLakeHarrietMinneapolis20140414

Here’s the male preening himself. I’m always amused by the long thin feathers that stick out from the head giving the bird a “bad hair day” look.

MerganserRedbreastedmaleLakeHarrietMinneapolis20140414

I also found Horned Grebes at Lake Harriet. Their breeding plumage, shown here, is spectacular and very different from their non-breeding plumage. Here’s a link to a previous Picture of the Week showing the dramatic plumage change. http://www.earlorfphotos.com/Pictures-of-the-Week/2013-Pictures-of-the-Week/April-28-2013-Horned-Grebes/

GrebeHornedLakeHarrietMinneapolis20140414